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Assembly to debate suicide report Director needed to tackle suicide
(about 4 hours later)
The Northern Ireland Assembly is to debate ways of helping people who are suicidal. A suicide prevention director should be appointed in Northern Ireland, the assembly has been told.
The Stormont health committee is to publish a report addresssing the issues of suicide and self harm. An average of 195 people take their own lives in NI each year, while 4,500 are hospitalised after attempting suicide or deliberately injuring themselves.
Carmel Hanna, SDLP, said the key recommendations must be implemented by the executive as a matter of priority. An inquiry, by the assembly's health committee, was initiated after a spate of suicides in the County Armagh village of Laurelvale last year.
"People with severe mental health problems are at an increased risk of self harm or committing suicide and so require specialist care," she said. It said the introduction of a regional suicide helpline was premature.
"The recommendations in this report acknowledge that one size does not fit all and, instead, highlights the need for a broad and holistic approach which is backed up with ring-fenced funding and further training of appropriate staff. As well as appointing a director to ensure the government's Protecting Life strategy is prioritised across statutory organisations, the committee made several other recommendations to Health Minister Michael McGimpsey.
"To improve the current strategy, a long-term coordinated approach by the executive is required which must provide leadership on this important public health issue." Committee chairwoman Iris Robinson said: "Based on the evidence given to the committee, we believe that closer co-operation within and across a range of government departments will enable Protect Life to achieve its goals of preventing suicide and self-harm.
"In addition, we believe that involving churches, local authorities, and sports groups in the delivery of the strategy, as well as ring-fencing project funds for the next three years, will all aid its success."
The health committee found that a pilot helpline for north and west Belfast for people in danger of taking their own lives was rolled out across Northern Ireland before it had been properly evaluated.
It described the decision as "rash".
Among the other recommendations were:
  • More needs to be done to tackle suicide rates among older people and those living in rural areas;
  • More training should be provided for people who come into contact with those at risk of taking their own lives.
  • More governmental departments must play a part in preventing suicide.
    • The issue is currently being debated in the assembly.
    Earlier, Carmel Hanna of the SDLP, said the key recommendations must be implemented by the executive as a matter of priority.